Man Who Tried to Set Ex-Girlfriend On Fire Charged with Attempted Murder

Robert York is shown after he was released from the hospital. HPD photo.

A South Kona man who tried to set his ex-girlfriend on fire and then set himself ablaze has been charged with attempted murder and six other offenses.

Robert York, 27, of Honaunau was charged late Thursday with second-degree attempted murder, kidnapping, terroristic threatening, arson, criminal trespassing and two counts of abuse of a family/household member.

He was being held in lieu of $66,250 bail.

Police said York on Tuesday went to the Honaunau home of his ex-girlfriend, poured a flammable liquid on the front porch and set it on fire. When his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend climbed out of a window, York allegedly grabbed her and poured the liquid on both her and himself.

At that point the victim’s relatives, who live in another house on the property, arrived on the scene and pulled York away. As one of the relatives began fighting the flames with a garden hose, York set himself on fire, police said.

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The ex-girlfriend and her relatives extinguished both the flames on the porch and York before York fled the scene on foot. Shortly thereafter York called 911 and was taken by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital where he was treated for burns. He was arrested upon leaving the hospital Wednesday.